Trusting Jack (17 page)

             
“You think so?  You don’t think I should do the movie?”

             
“You’re a terrific actor, Jack, and you’ll be great in whatever you choose.  But I know it’s the theater you love best.”             

“You understand me so well.”  Jack savored the last bite of his lamb.  “You’re a damn fine cook, love.”

              “It would warm Mama’s heart to hear you say that.  She taught me everything I know.”

             
“You seem to enjoy it.”

             
“I do.”  She draped her napkin over her plate and drew a knee up in the chair.  “Planning for it, shopping, the actual time spent in the kitchen. Watching someone you care for eating something you made.”  She smiled.  “It makes me feel good.  Do you want more?”

             
“Oh, no, I’m full.  I couldn’t eat another bite.”

             
“That’s a shame,” Emma told him as she rose, gathered plates.  “I stopped by the bakery and picked up a triple chocolate cake.”

             
“Triple chocolate?”

             
“Mmm.  James mentioned it was your favorite.”

             
“Well.” Jack’s eyes brightened.  “I guess I could find room for a small slice.”  When Emma indicated a size with her thumb and index finger, he grinned.  “Maybe a bit larger than that.”

             
Emma laughed.  “Go on into the living room; I’ll bring you your bit larger slice in there.”

             
She carried the tray in and sat in on the table in

front of the sofa.  She handed Jack his plate of cake and

a cup of coffee.  She took her own cup and sat beside

him, tucking her feet under her.

              “No cake for you?” he asked as he dug into his. 

             
She shook her head.  “No, I really am too full.”  But she caved when he held out a bite on his fork.  “It’s good.”

             
“I’ve had a lovely evening, Emma.  I don’t often get homemade meals.”

             
“Do you cook?”

             
“I can boil water for tea and make coffee.  I can warm up leftovers or something Glenda leave in my freezer.  And I can manage a few small meals.”

             
“Glenda?”

             
“James’s mother.  She usually sees to it that I have two or three meals in there.  Must be a woman thing, seeing everyone fed.  Did you cook much for Ryan?” he asked as he fed her another bite of cake.

             
Emma looked at him and chewed slowly.  “That was unexpected.  But, no, he preferred to eat out and be seen.  I actually cook more for Norah than I ever did for him.”

             
Jack nodded, sat his empty plate and cup back on the tray.  “The question just slipped out; I’m sorry.  Let’s move on.  Have you ever been to Rome?”

             
“No.”  She wrapped her hands around her cup and her green eyes went wistful.  “I’ve wanted to, though.  Rome and Florence.  Ireland and Madrid.  I’ve always wanted to travel.”

             
“Emma.”  Jack leaned forward and took her cup.  After he sat it aside, he took both her hands.  “After
She-Wolf
wraps, I’ll have six weeks free.  Let me take you to Rome or Ireland, to anywhere you like.”

             
“I can’t.”  Emma sighed, squeezed his hands. 

“That’s an awesome offer and I really, really want to,

but I can’t.  Norah has committed to her next role and we have to be in Detroit two weeks after we leave here.”

             
“But, surely, for those two weeks we can—“He frowned when Emma shook her head.

             
“I’ll have to go home, see my mama.  Spend time with her, hear about the cruise she’s about to take.  I can’t, won’t neglect her.”  She closed her eyes.  She would have to sit down with him and have a serious conversation once he was back from Germany.  Their time together was slipping away.

             
Jack saw the sudden tension in her shoulders.  He ran his hands up her arms.  “All right,” he said as much to sooth himself as well as her.  “We’ll work something out.”  But what, he wondered.

             
Emma pulled away, determined not to let sad thoughts ruin the night she’d planned.  She stood and pointed at Jack.  “I have a surprise for you.”

             
“Really?”  He glanced around the room.  “What?”

             
“I’ll have to go get it from the bedroom.  Why don’t you carry this,” she indicated the tray, “into the kitchen and then wait right here.”

             
When he left the room, she dashed into the bedroom to change.  She cracked the door a bit and saw him staring expectantly.  “Turn around,” she called.

             
“Why?”

             
“Cause it’s too big to put a bow on.  Turn around.”  He obliged.

             
Emma opened the door and walked to stand just behind him.  She let out her breath and whispered.  “Now.”

             
He turned, he looked.  And his mouth went dry.

             
She stood in front of him wearing a frothy

concoction of black lace and fuck-me heels.  Her hair

was curling madly about her shoulders.  She’d painted those full lips siren red and darkened her eyes.  He goggled and she smiled.

             
“You like?”

             
“God, yes.  Emma,” he reached out, ran a finger along one of those tiny straps at her shoulder, “you’re so fucking sexy.”  He started to pull her closer but she danced back.

             
“Unh-uh.  First, I want to…”  She moved in, finished loosening the tie he wore.  She pulled his head to hers for a quick, searing kiss.  She whipped the tie off and threw it into the chair behind her.

             
She tugged his shirt free from his trousers while he toed off his shoes.  Slowly, she slid the buttons open, kissing his flesh as it was bared to her.  He shrugged it off and went stock-still when her fingers went to his belt.

             
“Emma,” he breathed as she pulled it off, threw it aside.  Then her hands were unzipping, reaching in to find him hard and throbbing.  His breath hissed as he stepped clear of the clothing.

             
She flicked her eyes at him, sent him a wicked grin.  She went to her knees.

             
He groaned when her mouth clamped down.  His breath wheezed and he felt his eyes cross as she took him deeper.  His hands fisted in her hair, encouraging her, and his body went weak.

             
Jack could feel his self-control slip.  “Enough,” he growled and jerked Emma to her feet.  He bowed her over his arm and plundered her mouth.  His hand slid under the lace and felt hot, wet woman.  She whimpered.

             
He stood her upright and jerked the nightie

over her head.  He tossed it behind him and it landed in a puddle beside the door.  His hot blue eyes slid over her and Emma trembled.

              Her legs locked around his waist when he picked her up and started towards his bed.  She bounced once when he threw her down and joined her.  She’d lit candles there, as well, and he worshiped her body by their light.

             
He trailed hot, wet kisses down her throat, over her breasts.  He lingered there before returning again and again to her mouth.  His fingers found her, speared her, and she arched with a moan.  Her breath became as ragged as his.

             
“Now,” she panted.  She reached for him, stoked him with soft, eager hands.  “I need you now.  Hard, fast.  Now.”

             
He moved and she opened for him.  One hard thrust had them both gasping.  He hooked an arm under her leg and raised it to her chest as he hammered into her.

             
“Oh God oh God,” Emma moaned as she went higher and higher.  Her hands dug into the sheets as her hips rocked with his.  Jack heard her sob his name, saw her eyes go blind.  And he fell as she did, bucking as he poured into her.

Chapter 21

              Emma woke slowly to the sun slanting through the blinds.  She turned her head and saw Jack propped up on one elbow, smiling at her.

             
“What?”

             
“You’re cute when you sleep, all curled up in a little ball.”

             
She smiled sleepily back and stretched.  Jack was on her in a flash and she gasped.  He grabbed her wrists, lifted them above her head.  He lightly nibbled at her neck.  Her giggle ended in a breathless moan when he slid into her.

             
“Good morning,” he whispered.

             
“Mornin’,” she managed.  Her breath snagged and she instinctively tugged her arms.  He held them tighter and shook his head.

             
“I’m going to take you,” he whispered, “slow and easy this time.”

             
His voice, his words, only heightened her arousal.  She whimpered and pushed her hips up to meet his.  He lowered his head and caught a breast in his mouth.  He tugged gently and swirled his tongue around her nipple. 

             
She gasped and knew she was close.  Jack knew it, too, and stilled.  Emma made a pleading sound in her throat.  He chuckled softly and took her mouth in a heated kiss, his tongue dancing with hers as he began to move again.

             
Emma’s breath grew labored and her hands flexed in his.  He moved with a slow, steady pace and she met his every thrust.  Her eyes closed as pleasure swirled.  He released her hands and she grasped his shoulders, her nail biting into his skin.

He cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing her as the tremors began. She tightened around him and he groaned as he felt himself let go.

Jack moved to lie beside her, a satisfied smile on his face.  “That should hold me till I get back,” he teased.

Emma poked him in the side.  “It better.”

“Would you be jealous, darling?”

“I’d scratch her eyes out,” she replied with a grin, but worry began gnawing around her heart. 
Was
he beginning to tire of her?

The alarm she’d set on her phone sounded and she quickly turned it off.  Jack frowned.  “It’s awful early for you to be leaving.”

“I know, but Norah has an interview.  I told her I’d be back before then, so…duty calls.”

“Well, damn. There goes my fantasy of keeping you naked in bed all day.”

“The thought of not fulfilling that fantasy truly saddens me.  But I still have to go.”  She started to get out of bed, paused, and looked at him again.  “Maybe we can work that in as a welcome home present?”

“I look forward to it.”

Emma took her bag into the bathroom to get ready for the day.  Jack jerked a pair of pajama bottoms over his hips and went into the living room.

He grinned when he saw the scattered clothing.  His Emma had surprised him last night.

He’d be eternally grateful.

He gathered the clothing and dumped it in the laundry room on his way to make Emma her morning fix of caffeine.  He didn’t notice the lace by the door.

Emma lingered under the water longer than

she’s meant to.  She was scurrying when she came out

of the bedroom. 

“Bless you,” she said when Jack handed her a to-go cup.  The scent of coffee wafted up and she inhaled greedily.  “Just what I needed.”

“I’ll be visiting Glenda this afternoon since I can’t be with you,” he told her.

She gave him a guilty smile.  “I’m sorry,” she began but he shook his head.

“You have work, and it’s been a while since I’ve dropped in to visit.  My plane leaves at two tomorrow.  I’ll come by and see you on my way to the airport.”

“OK.  I’ll miss you.”

“And I’ll miss you.”  He gave her a lingering kiss, then she opened the door and rushed to the cab he’d called for her.  Her discarded nightie never crossed her mind.